Illuminated tongue depressor



Sept 30, E924@ LSIQM- vv. J. CAMERON ILLUMINATED TOGUE DEPRES S CR Patented Sept. 3G,

iT. CAMERON, 0F CHICAGO, HLETOIS.

ILLUMINATED TONGUE DRESSOBJ.

Application led October 27, 1922. Serial No. 97,l.01.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILL J. GAMERON, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Illuminated" Tongue Depressors, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to tongue depressors, and has articular reference to a structure of this c aracter that is capable of being illuminated and collapsible so that it may be folded to be conveniently stored or carried in the pocket.

Among the objects of my invention are the provision of a tongue depressor having a blade holder or carrier that is hingedly connected to the handle, and the latter is provided with suitable means for illumination so that when the device is in use the cavity of the mouth and the alatal and lower` portions of the throat wil be illuminated and may be readily examined. Another object is to provide a structure in which the usual wooden blades or spatula are readily insertable in the hinged carrying member and may be quickly removed there- `rom, 'or a metal spatula can be substituted for a wooden blade when it is necessary for the physician or sur 'eon to perform an o eration. Another o ject is 'to rovi e illuminatin means upon a holder or andle;

the parts o the structure being so arranged that the liability of short circuiting the cure rent, or of shocking the patient is entirely eliminated. Also, in this latter connection, l have constructed the appliance so that the conductor Wires leading from the lamp socket are embedded firmly in insulating material and lead to the end of the handle opposite the light so that the lead wires with w ich the handle or holder is connected will be out of the way and not interfere with the surgeon' or physician. A still further object resides in the provision of a hinged structure for removably connecting the blade holder or carrier to the handle so that the parts may be readily separated for thel purpose of sterilization. A further yobject of my invention is to provide a structure that may be folded in a compact manner so that it will occupy a relatively small space for storage, or may be convenienti carried in the pocket of the o erator. l of the foregoing, and divers ot er objects, prefer "to accomplish. by means of the structure hereinafter described, and which is more particularly pointed out in the claims. Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawin s that form a part of this specification an which show a typical or preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

c Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation of the tongue depressor and handle portion, the latter being partly broken away to disclose its interior. y

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, the same being :tragmental and enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 isa transverse horizontal section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction; of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a metal tongue depressor which is interchangeable with the well known wooden spatula.

Similar reference characters have been employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views, and, by reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed the structure preferably comprises a handle member 6, which, as seen in Figs. 'l and liof the drawings, is holiovv and is substantially oval or elliptical shape in cross-section. The handle member is preferably formed vof insulating material, such as the well known bakelite, gutta perche, or similar material, to insure insulation, and at lts lower end is reduced in diameter, and terminates in an extension of c lindrical or circular cross-section to which 1s attached a errule or sleeve 8 of the electrical plu connection type. A. terminal 9 is provi ed in the end of the cylindrical extension i to which a conductor wire l0 is suitably connected, and the opposite conductor wire il is connected to ferrule or sleeve 8. lin orderto insure the separation and insulation oi these conductor wires l0 and 1i, they are embedded in opposite gortions of the wall of the handle, preferab y diametrically opposite each other. as shown in Figs. i, 2 and into socket 13 into which it projects, and

conductor wire 10 is connected to this terminal 14 so that when a lamp or bulb 15 is screwed into socket 13 into contact with terminal 14 the circuit will be formed through the lamp filament. The outer end of extension 12 is provided with an en larged portion 16 that has vprovided upon opposite sides, preferably. horizontally a inmg recesses `17 so that enlargement 16 is -thereby bifurcated which permits of the ready manipulation of a miniature bulb 15 when being screwed into the socket. It will also be noted that upon opposite sides of the recess is provided a shield or guard that shades the light from ,.the operators eyes and also protects the bulb against accidental breakage in the event the patient should suddenly close his teeth against the same.

The holder or carrier for the spatula or tongue blade comprises a metal late 18 that is provided adjacent its hinge end with a longitudinal embossment -19 that provides a reinforcing rib, and said plate terminates adjacent the same in lobes or ears 20 that provide means for hinging the same upon the handle member, as will shortly be described. The longitudinal side edges of plate 18- are bent downwardly to provide side-walls 21 and then horizontally parallel and below top walll 19 to provide spaced bottom walls 22 that are somewhat yielding. This provides a box-like structure that will readily yield and frictionally hold the wooden spatula 23 when inserted therein, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. This also permits the wooden spatula to be inserted whenever the physician or surgeon is examining a patients 'mouth or throat, and the spatula may be readily removed and discarded after each examination. In the event an operation is to be performed it is customary to rovide a more rigid structure,

thanl the woo en spatula, in which event a metal blade is employed, similar to that shown in Fig. 5, in order to give the structure greater strength. As it is necessary, in performing operations to use considerably more force against the muscles of the tongue and throat, owing to the fact that the patient is usually under anesthetic, this metal blade 24 has its outer end l curled downwardly, as at 25, and is provided with a central elon ated opening 26 that extends longitudinal y thereof.

l The handle 6 adjacent its upper or outer end and contiguous to the extension or oblique member 12 is provided witha rounded embossment 27 that is bored horizontally, or axially thereof, to receive shank 28 of a headed bolt 29. The ears or lobes 20 of the,

ture, I have provided a ring 31 that is snapped into opposite recesses 32 upon sides of the head of bolt 29 and which may be folded down flatwise when not in use. When the structure is being' used, the holder for the spatula or tongue blade is raised upwardly so that embossment 19 contacts the under surface of enlargement 16 of extension 12, and a downward pressure of the handle in this position with the spatula or `blade against the tongue will hold the structure in position. When not in use holder 18 may be folded fiat against the handle member, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In using thel metal spatulaor blade, shown in Fig. 5, the carrier is preferably removed and the perforated hinge lu s 33 are placed upon opposite ends of cylin rical embossment 27 so that the metal spatula is mounted in the same manner as the holder. If desired, the metal spatula may be straight at its ends; the hinge lugs being omitted so that it is of substantially the same dimensions as the wooden spatula, and, in this event, the carrier or holder 18 need not be removed4 from the handle, but the vmetal blade maybe inserted between the four walls of `the carrier in the same manner as the wooden blade structure. It isobvious that' other types of lnstruments may be employed upon the structure and the illumination from the lamp will provide ready means for examination and operation.

WhatI claim is:

1. illuminated tongue'depressor comprisingl a handle, a spatula receiving member h1 ly connected adjacent one end thereto, a lateral member beyond the point of connection of said member to said handle and against which the spatula-receiving member impinges when in operation, an electric light socket in said lateral member, an electric plug connection at the opposite end of said handle, and conductors leadl from said socket to said (pll'ug and embedd .in the walls of the han 2. An illuminated tongue depssor comprising a handle, a. spatula.V receivin member hmgedly mounted at one end vt ereof and a protected lamp socket above said member consisting -ro-a lateral hollow embossment on said handle in which a metallic sleeve is secured; said embossment extended 1z0 mienne beyond the outer end of seid sleeve and hav ing oppositely disposed recesses whereby to permit access to a lamp inserted therein and for the manipulation of the latter.

3. An illuminated tongue depressor comprising a handle of insulating material, a lamp `socket and terminals at one end thereof, 'a lug and terminals at the opposite end, spaces conductors connecting the respective embedded and insuter'minals and wholl' andie, a holder hingedly lated in said h mounted on mid handle adjacent said socket,

and a holder.

4. An illuminated tongue depressor comprising a handle of insulating material, a

spatula removably mounted in said lamp socket and terminals at one end there-v of, a lug and terminals at the opposite end, spaces conductors connect' the tive terminals and wholly em ded an insulated in said handle, `a holder hingedly mounted on said handle adJaeent said socket; said holder consisting of a plate provided at the portion opposite the hinge with folded overspring members whereby to provide a yieldable pocket, and a spatula removably inserted'in said pocket.

Signed at Chicago; county of Cook and Ste of Illinois, t 19 Jl.- @MEUR 30th day of August, 

